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JAMES ST. JOHN,;.OF STAMFORD, oonnnor c ur.

' Letters Patent Na. 71,812, elated December 3, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM'IT MAY OONGERNi Be it known that I, JAMES Sr. Jenn, of Stamford, in the county of Fair-field, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Glasses for Plants, Hot-Beds, &c. and I do l hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a portion of this specification, in which.--- i r Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding glass constructed according to my invention, showing the same in an expanded condition.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same, also in an expanded condition. Figure 3 is an end view of the same, in a closed condition. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures; l The object of this invention is to provide a glass for protecting plants, which, when not in use, may be compactly folded up and laid away, the invention being designed for use in covering or protecting either separate or isolated plants, or for hot-beds, as may be desired.

The invention consists in two fiat glasses, hinged or pivoted together at adjacent edges, and furnished with end pieces of flexible material in such manner that the glasses may be spread apart at an angle to each other, with the end pieces expanded so as to cover and surround the plant or bed, as the case may be, or be brought parallel with each other, with the end pieces compactly folded between them, the device being thus made to occupy but very little space when \not in use.

To enable others to understand ,the nature and construction of my invention, I will proceed to describe it P with reference to the drawings. a L A represents two rectangular frames, hinged or pivoted together at their edges, as shown at a, and which,

if desired, maybe formed of sheet metal, the edges 6 being turned upward and inward to provide grooves for the reception of the-edges of plates or panes B of glass, which constitute the sides of the device. (1 indicates triangular end pieces, formed of cloth or other suitable flexible material, each end of the device being furnished with an 'end piece, C, the edges of which are secured to the adjacent edges of the frames A, or, in lieu of this, to those of the glass in-any suitable manner. i

In employing the device to cover or protect a plant or hot bed, as the case may be, its two sides are brought apart at an angle to each other with the end pieces 0, stretched as shown in figs. 1 and 2. The device as thus expanded being then placed over the plant or upon the hot-bed, the inclined glass sides thereof secure all the advantages ordinarily resulting from the use of a glass covering, while the end pieces, by-preventing cur rents oi air from passing below the said sides, insure a comparatively even or' uniform temperature of the ail enclosed within the device, so that by these means the plants, either isolated or. grown. in hot-beds,-may be cfi'ectually protected. V I

When the device is not required for use, the two sides thereof are brought closely together with the flexible end pieces folded between them, as indicated in fig. 3;.the device or folding glass being thus brought into very compact form, adapted either for being stored or laid away, or for being packed for transportation.

It is intended that the two glass sides be hinged or connected either by the means hereinbefore set forth, or by a joint or flexible connection of any other suitable construction. I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The two glasses, hinged or pivoted together, and furnished with the flexible end pieces, substantially as and for the purpose specified. l

2. The combination of the glasses B, hinged frames or sashes A, and flexible end pieces, substantially as i and for the purpose specified. Y M a JAMES ST. JOHN- Witnesses: J. W. GooMBs, A. Ln CLunc'. 

